The numbers are in, and Democratic Rep. Ami Bera of Elk Grove raised more than $462,000 in the third quarter of 2013, outpacing a trio of Republican challengers.

This brings Bera’s total cash on hand to nearly $899,000. The first-term congressman has raised more than $1 million this year.

Of Bera’s GOP contenders, former Rep. Doug Ose raised $247,000 and finished the quarter with $256,000 in the bank, according to his report.

Ose has retired a $250,000 debt from his primary defeat in 2008 at the hands of Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove.

Igor Birman, on leave as McClintock’s longtime chief of staff, took in nearly $163,000 and finished with $139,000. Birman received 19 contributions of the maximum $5,200, of which only $2,600 could be spent in the primary.

Bera, who defeated former Rep. Dan Lungren last year to win the redrawn 7th Congressional District, is a top target of the GOP in next year’s elections.

– Christopher Cadelago

COURTS WATCH

Several prominent lawyers and civic leaders have formed a new group to advocate on behalf of California’s courts. The private nonprofit Foundation for Democracy and Justice aims to focus on public education about the role of the judiciary. Its formation comes after years of cuts to court funding and an ongoing division among judges about how to manage under a more austere budget. The 10 founders include Carlos Moreno, retired state Supreme Court associate justice, and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca.